Austin CarShare Dies, but Car Sharing Dream Lives On

Austin CarShare, which since 2006 had been bringing Austinites the ability to temporarily use an automobile in exchange for a meager membership fee plus hourly and mileage charges, is no more. As reported by Katherine Gregor at the Chronicle, members were given the bad news a few days ago.

The good news is that the car sharing concept appears to be catching on in Austin, at least judging by the number of Car2go Smart ForTwos taking up half parking spots around downtown. Car2go has a similar rate structure, but a ~~larger~~ more multitudinous fleet and deep-pocketed corporate backing.

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By Shawn Shillington in News on July 29, 2010 4:55 PM 0 Comments

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William OLeary

I loved ACS and will miss using the service.

I was a member of Car2Go until they started making unauthorized debits to my bank account for services I never used, and when asked to return my money they outright refused, and then tried to pacify me by offering me a gift card to Whole Foods.

I have lived in Austin for 5 years and in all that time I think I maybe went to Whole Foods twice and had no need for the gift card, but what I had need of was the money they stole from me.

Tot this very day they have not returned my money to me and I would caution anyone that used the service to keep a close eye on what they debit from your account.

emigo

Jan. 31, 2011

Dear William,

I was rather amazed that car2 go would not refund your money. Did they give you a reason why they would not refund it? Was this communication from you to them and back verbal or in writing?

My interest in this situation stems from the fact that I had my entire bank account cleaned out a number of years ago before I caught on to how these things work. A debit to a deposit account, i.e., a checking account or a savings account, is AUTOMATICALLY paid (in the US at least; I am researching how it is done in other countries).

No one, including your bank, checks anything; they just pay it. So if its intentional theft or an honest mistake, the monkey is on your back to prove your case.

It is sort of like leaving your residence door open so people can come in and take what they want of your possessions. Someone steals from you, and then you must prove that the property is yours.

I also know a little bit about the company that owns car2go, which is Daimler, the big German automaker. I was in Germany around 2001 researching carsharing.

When they offered you the gift card, did they say why they were offering it? (meaning did they admit that they owed you the money?).

I would be willing, with your permission, to write a letter to car2go/Daimler, to see if I can get your money back. First we would have to organize your documentation, so if they eventually say that they will refund it if we can document that the withdrawal was unauthorized, we will be all ready.

Sometimes lower level managers just do not want to admit they screwed up because their boss becomes aware if they must actually RETURN your money. Giving out a gift card is probably no big deal -they probably do that to soothe someone who only got poor service, etc.

I am really interested to see how far they (whoever at car2go is personally responsible for the unauthorized charges) will go to keep your money.

Give me a ring, or send me your phone num and I will call you. I talk faster than I type (I'm over 40...LOL).

Bradford Worthington
637 Egbert Avenue
Franklin, PA 16323

(814) 437-7471 (in phone book under Craig Worthington, my brother)